Cold, but plenty of cars at BRCC

Published: Saturday, March 23, 2013 at 5:05 p.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, March 23, 2013 at 5:05 p.m.

Cloudy skies and cold, crisp air kept cars and car lovers to a minimum Saturday at the Blue Ridge Community College's annual car show.

But even in those conditions, there were some people out early to support the Skills USA automotive club at the college. The event is sponsored by the club and the Great Smokey Mountain Region of the Antique Auto Club.

"It was good," Matt Rieger, an event organizer, said. "It was for a good cause. It was real chilly, but we had fun."

The proceeds that are made every year from the show go directly to the nonprofit club, which competes in automotive tournaments at the state and national level.

The group has 27 members and has been in existence since 2004. It's won four state championships in that span.

While there weren't many cars out in in the early part of the morning, the ones that showed got lots of attention. Folks in attendance gathered around a 1955 Chevy owned by Chris English. There were Volkswagens, BMWs, and all sorts of foreign cars.

There was even a bike on display.

Mark Allard found a 1949 Western Flyer bicycle two years ago hanging on a fence at a Harley Davidson shop.

"They were using it as yard art," he said. The story is reminiscent of a popular TV show called "American Pickers," he joked.

He bought it and put a motorbike kit on it.

The show lasted from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. In the end, 35 cars showed, along with support from companies like Harry's and Boyd Cadillac Chevrolet.

<p>Cloudy skies and cold, crisp air kept cars and car lovers to a minimum Saturday at the Blue Ridge Community College's annual car show.</p><p>But even in those conditions, there were some people out early to support the Skills USA automotive club at the college. The event is sponsored by the club and the Great Smokey Mountain Region of the Antique Auto Club. </p><p>"It was good," Matt Rieger, an event organizer, said. "It was for a good cause. It was real chilly, but we had fun."</p><p>The proceeds that are made every year from the show go directly to the nonprofit club, which competes in automotive tournaments at the state and national level.</p><p>The group has 27 members and has been in existence since 2004. It's won four state championships in that span. </p><p>While there weren't many cars out in in the early part of the morning, the ones that showed got lots of attention. Folks in attendance gathered around a 1955 Chevy owned by Chris English. There were Volkswagens, BMWs, and all sorts of foreign cars.</p><p>There was even a bike on display.</p><p>Mark Allard found a 1949 Western Flyer bicycle two years ago hanging on a fence at a Harley Davidson shop.</p><p>"They were using it as yard art," he said. The story is reminiscent of a popular TV show called "American Pickers," he joked. </p><p>He bought it and put a motorbike kit on it. </p><p>The show lasted from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. In the end, 35 cars showed, along with support from companies like Harry's and Boyd Cadillac Chevrolet.</p><p>In the morning, however, the weather was playing a definite role.</p><p>"This will probably be the smallest turnout we've ever had," he said.</p><p>Reach Millwood at 828-694-7881 or at joey.millwood@blueridgenow.com.</p>